AN: So I guess you guys have a little bit of a reason to be cheesed off at me, I haven't updated on schedule like I usually do, and I'm so very sorry for that. I've been busy with some other junk, and I've had the bitchiest case of writers block EVER! But have no fear! I am here to please you, with this chapter of course!

So as always, ENJOI my pretty readers!

©NataliaNicolette - Although I own nothing you may or may not recognize. No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter Inspiration:

"I'll buy a house on the better side of names on the mailbox  the sound of tiny feet running through the yard,

how does that sound so far?All you need to do to get away is, close your eyes and your eyes and wander your eyes and wander away with me."

Close Your Eyes and Wander / Ernie Halter

--

Spear Mahalla

--

I hated to tell her goodbye, but it was late and she needed her sleep and rest. I drove the Beast back to the house and immediately dashed out the front door. Landing on four paws, I went right back to where I had started, near her house. I just wanted to make sure that there was nothing or no one in particular lurking around. I was going to keep her safe and if that meant running around her house, all night, every night then I would.

There was nothing that seemed out of the ordinary when I got back near her house in Forks. Except for the eerie silence that usually played in the evenings, there was nothing strange to worry about. The rain seemed to lighten as the hours ticked on, but the thick fog rolled in, illuminated by the streetlamps down her road. I settled for laying underneath a tree, near her window. I could hear her steady sighful breathing. Her heartbeat was perfect and rhythmic and I soon fell asleep underneath the tree, water lightly dripping on my fur coat.

When I woke up, the light in the sky was dim. The thick rain clouds blocked the sun from sight. I figured it was not time for Pierce to wake up for school yet, since her breathing was still airy and regular. I peeked in to see her sprawled across her mattress, sleeping soundly. My exhaled breaths were coming in puffs from the cold air mixing with my hot breath.

When I got back to the house, the clock read almost six o'clock. I decided to head for a shower and then some food. Shane surprised me by being fully awake and sitting at the table, looking a combination of pissed off and shocked.

"Hey bro." I muttered, pulling a box of cereal from the cupboard.

"They totaled Jakes shop." he said in a deadly low voice. This caught me off guard and I spun on my heel, nearly spilling milk from the jug all over the kitchen floor.

"What!?" I asked. He looked up at me.

"Makah." was all he said and I was reeling. "Jake's shop is in Fork's. None of us patrol near Forks." he explained. "They tore the place apart, Spear. Jake is pissed. And I think Ayden is going to kill someone." he muttered, looking at the floor. My jaw seemed to be screwed open. My cell phone buzzed in my pocket. I yanked it out angrily and read the offending text.

Care broke down, can you give me a ride, pretty please? - Pierce.

I smiled despite myself and flipped my phone shut after texting back a 'no problem'. Like she had to ask. She could literally tell me to do whatever she wanted and I would.

"So, how it she?" Shane sighed and I knew he was referring to Pierce.

"She's okay. She was just pretty shook up last night." Shane nodded. "We need to go though. She needs a ride and it's almost time for class to start, so.." Shane waved a hand at me.

"You go ahead, I'm going to go and help Jake out. I'm not really diggin' classes anyway." he muttered and I understood. Shane had never been a scholastic type.

"Alright dude. Tell Jake that I'll stop by after classes, yeah?" he nodded. "Alright bro, I'll see you later." I muttered, knocking my knuckles to his in a brotherly goodbye. I ducked out the front door and through the downpour, into my car. I arrived at Pierce's house a few minutes later. She was waiting on the front stoop, under the overhang with a container of what smelt like food. As she approached, my breath caught, like always. She was beautiful and she was mine.

Her hair was swept around her face, laying over her shoulders. She was clad in dark jeans and those black UGG boots that every girl seemed to have, with a black zip up hoodie and what looked like a teal shirt on underneath. Her simplicity was endearing and I loved her even more for it.

"Morning." she murmured once she slammed my door shut. I grinned. I glanced down at the container that was releasing a mouthwatering scent and mumbled,

"G'mornin'." she smiled.

"This is for you." she said handing me the container. I popped the top and wanted to take a hug bit of whatever it was.

"Thanks." I mumbled. I took a small bite and nearly died. It would be nice to have cooking like this everyday! "What is this!? I love it." I muttered, taking another bite. She smiled.

"It's called Tapa." she explained and I loved her accent as she elaborated further, "It's like a traditional Filipino breakfast choice. The beef if cooked with garlic and soy sauce and a tiny bit of sugar and vinegar. A lot of people think it's similar to kalbi, which is Korean, but in my opinion, it's completely different." she finished and I was again bewitched by her.

I had to do it.

It was too hard not to.

I slid my hand behind her neck and almost chuckled as her eyes widened adorably. I leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, her beautiful full lips. She smiled against me and rested a hand against my chest, probably feeling my pattering heart that matched the rain splattering on my car.

She was amazing and I was going to make sure she knew just how important to me she really was.

I pulled back and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you." I mumbled near her flesh. She giggled.

"You're welcome." she smiled, pecking my lips one last time before pulling away. "We better get going, or we'll be late. You can eat that after class." she told me and I nodded. She was right. I took off and we made it just in time, the class starting a moment after we arrived. Ms. Tanner smiled at our interlaced fingers as we approached two empty seats in the back row.

It was tough paying attention in class. Pierce's scent was intensified by the rain that attacked her on her way to my car earlier. She kept glancing at me during class, each time breaking my concentration down a little more. Every time our eyes met, my mind was flooded with memories of the night before. Her lips moving against mine, her smell, her petite body molded to my own. She gave me shivers without even trying.

When Ms. Tanner finally wrapped up her lecture and excused herself to go to the office, most of the other students made a dash for the door. I stayed seated, watching Pierce scribbling away on her notebook. She bent over her desk, biting her bottom lip in concentration, her brow wrinkled. She looked so cute. I snuck up behind her and cleared my throat, she jumped and turned to glare at me.

"Don't do that!" she scolded me halfheartedly. I grinned, reaching for her as she closed her notebook and stood, taking my hand. "What were you writing about?" I asked as I slung an arm around her shoulder, making our way out of the abandoned classroom. She blushed and I nearly laughed.

"Uh, n-nothing." she stammered and I got the inkling that it was something she didn't want me to see. I nodded thoughtfully, not wanting to make her blush even more. I dropped her at her next class, after making sure that Logan's scent was nowhere around. She smiled at me and I kissed her cheek as she hugged me tightly before disappearing into her next class. I made a beeline for my next class, not wanting to be late.

The rest of the day was boring, probably because the only time I got to see Pierce was in between classes. I sent a text to Yaya to tell her that I was bringing Pierce by after classes were done. She replied, telling me that Kai jumped at the opportunity to see her again. When I was dismissed from my last class, I made my way to room 312 and waited for Pierce to appear in the doorway. When I heard the professor say he was done, my heart sped up as I waited for her.

After twenty seven other students filed by me, she made her appearance and I wrapped my arms around her, smelling her scent. Every time I saw her was like the first time all over again and I couldn't help the lovestoned look that was plastered on my face. I loved that girl.

"So, we're going to see Yaya and Kai today right?" she asked happily as we made our way to my car. I nodded and she laughed.

"I'm gonna drop you off for at Emily's. Kai and Yaya are waiting there to see you." I mumbled as I speeded, going way past the speed limit, but there was no one of the road. I glanced over at her and she frowned, watching the trees passing the car.

"You're gonna leave?" she asked and my heart tugged a little.

"I'll be back in an hour tops, I promise. Gonna miss me?" I laughed playfully. She smiled and the dark sky lit up the slightest.

"I just don't like it when we're apart." she mumbled. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to hear that part. I reached over the center consul and grabbed her tiny hand in mine. I rubbed soothing circles on the back with my thumb.

"I'll be back. It won't even be that long, I promise. I bet you won't even notice that I'm gone. Yaya and Kai are gonna keep you way occupied." I assured her. She looked at me skeptically.

"Just and hour?" she questioned and to know that it wasn't just me that felt like a piece of me was gone when she wasn't with me.

"Just an hour." I promised. She smiled and gripped my had tighter.

When we got to Emily's, Kai and Yaya were sitting on the swing on the front porch, watching the big, fat raindrops that started falling a few minutes previous to our arrival. Yaya was wrapped up in a huge blanket, her hand resting on her big belly. Kai had a huge smile plastered on her face as she watched Pierce slide down from the Beast."It's about time you got her here! I've been freezing my ass off and I'm nearly eight months knocked up." Yaya grumbled when I led Pierce up the front steps. Kai laughed, shaking her head. Yaya yanked Pierce into a hug, her mountain belly a great barrier in between them. Pierce laughed. I sighed as Kai jokingly swatted my arm.

"Well, I'm gonna go and see Jake at the shop." I announced, watching Yaya pull Pierce onto the swing. I leaned down and pecked Pierce's cheek. She grinned and I turned to leave. I was on the bottom step of the porch when Pierce muttered my name. I turned on my heel and she hurtled down the top two steps into my arms. I barely had time to react, she pressed her lips against mine and in an instant I reacted, kissing her back. When she pulled away, she kissed the tip of my nose.

"Please don't be too long." she murmured. I nodded, transfixed on the way her voice got a tad bit more femininely husky, her words dripping from her mouth. I smiled and she untangled herself from me, stepping away.

"Well, hot damn!" Yaya laughed as I hurried to the Beast. Kai whistled and Pierce's face was the shade of a tomato. I took off, hoping it would save both of us some humiliation.

As I got onto the road, the uncomfortable tension in the air that was present that one night at Pierce's returned. I felt tense.

When I pulled up front of the shop, I could hear Jake cursing at no one in particular. His car was parked out front and Quil's car was parked near the curb. I caught Ayden and Embry's scent as I walked up to the entrance.

The outside wasn't as bad as the inside. There was some graffiti on the sign out front and a broken window or two, but nothing too terrible. The inside was a complete different story. My breath caught up as I walked in. it didn't even seem like the same shop! There was graffiti on every wall surface in the place. The tool boxes were overturned and there were tools thrown askew, as well as random bolts, screws, ect. The windows separating the office from the actual garage were shattered and there was a defaced car in looming near by.

They really screwed this place over.

"Hey man." Ayden muttered to me and I could tell he was pissed. His face was redder than usual, something that only happens when he was trying really hard not to phase and kill someone.

"Hey." I returned, half slack jawed at the dump of a place that was once called a garage.

"They're going to pay for this!" Jake almost screamed. He spun around to face me. "And you!" he said pointing a finger at me. "I heard from some certain sources that you spent the night in Fork's last night! What the hell happened!?" he hollered.

Great! Just fucking great! I was being blamed for this.

"Jake, I -" he cut me off.

"What did I tell you at the BBQ? Huh? I said you need to keep a sharper eye out for these scumbags! And what do you do? You spend the whole night here in Forks, and didn't even know what the hell was going down!" I was getting angry. Given, I was in Forks and I didn't know what was happening, but I had good reason, damn it!

"I wasn't here to patrol!" I snapped back and he looked shocked that I was talking back. I had always respected Jake like and uncle or second father.

"Well then, what the fuck were you doing out here!? Prancing around, fucking around with some random girl, what!? Because I don't get how you can just randomly be OUTSIDE the patrol boundaries and then not even bother to make sure things are alright!" I flinched. He was being harsh.

"Listen, my girl, my IMPRINT has been being beaten like a fucking rag doll for God only knows how long! He smacked her around the night before last, gave her a fucking black eye! I beat the shit out of him yesterday and I had to make sure she was okay! I stayed because I didn't want the asshole to come looking for her and have me not around! She was scared shitless, so SORRY if I was a bit too occupied to look over YOUR fucking shop!" I exploded and all the guys looked at me with mouths hanging open, wide eyes. I had never exploded at one of my elders like that, never. After a moment passed, and my blood wasn't boiling as much, I apologized. "Sorry, sorry, I'm just rattled." I muttered, glancing back at the damage.

"I had no idea." Jake finally said after a moment of silence. I shook my head. "I'm sorry man, I didn't know. You're girl? Is she okay?" he asked. "She'll be fine." Jake shook his head, suddenly a look of understandment and sympathy washed onto his features. He nodded.

After more uncomfortable silence, Jake piped up. "Help me get this place cleaned up." he murmured. I nodded and joined Ayden and Embry, along with Quil and Jake pick up the shop.

After the random things were picked up off the floor and put back into place, I helped Embry sweep up the shattered glass. When everything was said and done, Jake addressed us all. "I'm going to have patrol near here from now on. They're playing mind games and if we catch any of then on or near the rez or here, they're dead. Be on the sharp lookout when you're on patrol." he muttered, waving a hand in the air.

I guess that meant we were done.

I pulled my cell out of my pocket and checked the time.

Shit, it'd been almost three hours since I left Em's.

I rushed for the door, trying to get back to Em's and get back to Pierce. She was probably pissed, I promised one hour and here I am three hours gone.

"Spear!" Jake called as I was almost to my car. He jogged to stand in front of me. I turned to look back. He stood a few feet away. "Hey, man, I'm sorry about earlier. I was just pissed, it was easier to blame just anyone instead of the actual people that did it." he said, scratching the back of his neck. I nodded."It's cool. I understand. And I'm sorry about talking to you like a prick." I returned. He laughed and clapped me on my back. He turned and disappeared back into the garage.

I jumped in the Beast and hauled ass back to Em and Sam's.

When I got back, the ladies weren't sitting on the front porch like they were, probably because it started pouring down rain again. I rushed into the house, trying my best not to get drenched. Emily met me near the door.

"Hey Spear!" she smiled and I grinned. Emily was the coolest and I loved her like and aunt. She pulled me off into the living room, glancing at the kitchen, where I heard Yaya and Kai talking. "I really like your girlfriend." she murmured, peeking back toward the kitchen. I grinned.

Girlfriend? I liked the sound of that.

"Me too." I told her and she patted my arm and ran upstairs, probably to check on Caden, her grandson, whom she babysat on the weekdays. I sauntered into the kitchen, not sure whether or not Pierce was going to have my balls for not being back when I said I would be.

When I caught a glance at her, she looked shocked and nervous. She stood when she saw me, backing me out into the living room, but not before I looked up at Yaya who looked guilty. I mouthed a 'what's up?' to her and she shrugged.

"Sorry, it slipped!" she cried as Pierce and I made our way into the front room.

OH.

SHIT.

I smiled sketchily at her and she glared at me. I had a feeling this was more that me just being two hours late.

"Explain yourself!" she demanded after a beat of quite. I looked at her with innocence.

"Explain what?" I asked. Her hazel orb seared and she looked like she wanted to murder me.

"Imprint?" she spat, looking .

"Imprint? What's this you speak of?" I made one more attempt at talking my way out of this and it failed - epically.

"Cut the crap. Either you tell me or I'm out of here. Is this some kind of sick joke that the Natives play on all the non-Natives?" she seethed and I knew I had to explain.

"No, no." I paused, thinking of a way to explain. If only I had an imprint that knew our secret. After wracking my brain for a moment, I took a deep breath. "Okay, you know how every culture has it's legends. I'm sure you've heard some Filipino legends, right?" I began. She nodded with quirked eyebrows.

"Yeah. After my mom died, my grandmother used to tell me one about a girl that fell in love with a ghost and then - wait! What the hell does that have to do with what you're trying to explain to me?" she asked, getting clearly agitated and increasingly sexy.

"Okay, the Quileute's have this legend about one of our ancestor, Taha Aki. He was a - " I thought of a correct word. "great protector. As time progressed, he passed the gene on. Through time, my family as well as most of my friends inherited the gene. We're like LaPush protectors." I patted myself on the back for that grade A explanation, but Pierce wasn't letting me off that easily.

"Protectors from what exactly?" she questioned and I gulped.

"Vampires." I mumbled, too low for anyone to hear.

"I didn't catch that, come again." she looked at me with curious eyes.

"Vampires." I said out loud. She blanched.

"Are you kidding me!?" she whimpered. I shook my head.

"We're a pack. We protect the people from the bloodsuckers. It's what we're made for." I murmured as she stumbled to the couch, taking a shaky seat.

"A pack of wolves?" she asked in a tone that suggested she was just clarifying.

Yaya had a big fucking mouth!

"Yeah." I answered her, taking a seat near her. I wanted to put an arm around her and comfort her, but I thought this was just something that she had to absorb for a moment. She ran her hands through her loose hair and took a deep breath.

"Okay, so you're a mystical werewolf." she chuckled a bit bitterly. "You're a fucking werewolf." she repeated and I winced at her use of an curse word. "Okay, okay, okay, okay." she repeated. "Okay, I can deal with that. But what does that have to do with imprinting?" she squeaked the last bit, almost as if she was afraid to know.

"Imprinting is something that the wolves do." I slung an arm over her shoulder. "We imprint, to created stronger wolves." I rambled and she jerked away from me.

"I'm not getting this." she muttered angrily. She looked so cute when she was pissed. Her forehead crinkled and her eyes burned with intensity. "So you're saying that you only like me because I have to possibility to get pregnant and create stronger wolf spawn?" she grumbled. "This is just great! Here I am thinking I finally found a good guy, and it's not like that at all. It's only because I can produce wolf cubs!" she looked so distraught, like she wanted to cry and I felt like poking my own eyes out for causing her pain with a shitty explanation. "You're forced to be with me." she said quietly and I had to put and end to her worrying.

"No! no, it's like - fate. When a wolf finds their imprint it's like they find their soul mate! I live for you and through you. If you're hurt then I'm hurt. I don't just imprint and automatically love you because fate says so. Love grows." I explained and I think that time I got it right. She leaned into me and hugged me tightly.

"So I'm your soul mate?" she asked quietly. I laughed. I smelt her tears and pulled back, running my thumbs over her cheeks, drying her tears.

"You have no idea how much I care about you. You're more than my imprint and I think even if I wasn't a wolf, I would have still been crazy about you from day one." I told her and she laughed a watery laugh. I leaned foreword and kissed her lips lightly. She sighed and my nose was filled with her scent. When I pulled back she smiled. "I'm yours and only yours." she smiled.

"Good." she murmured. "So, can I kill you with a silver bullet?" she asked and I rolled my eyes.

"Not exactly, the Hollywood version of things is a bit watered down and over imaginative." I told her and she nodded.

"So I guess that means you don't turn into a hairy beast when there's a full moon." she giggled and I kissed her cheek.

Yaya had to interrupt the moment. "So I guess that means you're an official part of the imprint club! You get a patch and everything!" she squealed sarcastically. I rolled my eyes as Pierce burst into laughter.

"I could kill you and you're big mouth!" I spat, pointing an accusatory finger at her. She rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm pregnant and hormonal, I don't have a grip on my mind and it just got away from me. And I do not have a big mouth." she glared.

"You have a gigantic mouth!" I shot back and she flipped me the bird. She waddled off and Pierce snuggled into my side.

"So when were you planning on telling me?" she asked. I shrugged.

"Maybe when we're married, or never." I teased and she smacked my stomach. "I'm glad you're in on the secret though." I told her.

"So does this explain why you were shirtless when you came and got me that night?" she asked.

"You're a smart one." I chuckled. "Yeah, it explains why I didn't have a shirt. My body temperature is really high and wearing clothes sucks. And when I phase, I can't wear any clothes, they'll be destroyed." I explained, glancing down at her blushing face.

She snuggled closer to me, burying her face into my neck. "I love your warmth." she mumbled.

And once again, my world was right on track. Too bad the good shit never lasts.

--

Pierce Mactal

--

I hated when Spear wasn't with me. I brushed my teeth and washed my face thinking about what he could be doing at that moment. I stopped myself from calling or texting him, not wanting to seem too desperate, even though that's exactly what I was. I was desperate for him, craved him even. I was lying in my bed completely alone for the first time in at least a year and I looked at the white ceiling thinking of what a life with Spear would be like, what I could have with him that I knew I couldn't have with anyone else, a love that was couldn't be compared to anything else until I eventually fell asleep. The next morning I was practically giddy. Spear wanted me. He really wanted me. Not like Logan, I wasn't a possession to Spear, I was an equal. I showered and dressed, wanting to leave a little early to make sure Logan wasn't haunting the parking lot.

I ran to the car, slipping the key in the ignition and turning to hear the worst cranking noise I'd ever heard.

"Not now, please!" I said out loud. I turned the key back to the off position, cranking again, to no avail. "Well there goes that plan." I took a deep breath and pulled my phone out of my bag, texting a message to Spear asking for a ride. I wondered if I had somehow used my thoughts to keep my car from starting, knowing how badly I wanted to see Spear. Within seconds he responded with a "no problem" and my heart jumped at the thought of him.

I got out of the car and ran back to the house.

"Pierce? I thought you were going to class?" Lola asked, sitting on the couch watching The Price is Right.

"My car won't start but Spear's going to swing by to get me," I told her sitting down next to her.

"Make sure you have some food for him," she said very seriously. "Take that leftover tapa. Don't want him to think we're not thankful for all his help." Her eyes never left the TV. "That's too high! There all too high! Say it, 'One dollar, Drew.' Damn people, don't they go to the grocery store?"

I laughed as I went to the kitchen to grab the tapa. I sat with Lola for a few minutes, before almost feeling myself being pulled out the door, my center tugging to the front stoop.

"Magkaroon ng isang magandang araw, Lola," I said, telling her to have a good day as I walked out the front door and stood on the stoop no more than a minute before Spear's massive car pulled up. The car was big, it was loud, and it was all Spear.

I could see him in the front seat, his grin sexy as ever and I ran to him, pulling myself up into the vehicle.

"Morning," I mumbled, trying to keep myself from saying, "I love you! Can we just skip all the formalities and live happily ever after now?" I didn't though, didn't want to freak the poor guy out anymore than I already had.

"G'morning," he said, making me smile.

He glanced down at the container and I handed it to him, saying, "This is for you."

He opened it, sniffing and then with a "Thanks" he took a bit.

"What is this!? I love it," he said, taking another bit. I smiled at him, feeling myself blush a little.

"It's called Tapa," I started, before continuing a short analysis of what tapa was and wasn't. What I didn't expect was how he reacted, pulling my head forward and kissing me. Every kiss with Spear was so different and so loving.

He pulled out of the kiss, placing a gentle peck on my cheek. "Thank you," he sighed into my cheek, tickling me a little and eliciting a giggle from me.

"You're welcome," I answered, giving him a small kiss on the lips. "We better get going, or we'll be late. You can eat that after class."

We got to class just in time, wandering in holding hands as Mrs. Tanner smiled at us as we found seats next to each other and class began. Every now and then I would feel Spear's eyes on me, as Mrs. Tanner's lecture droned on. I usually loved her class, but today, all I wanted to be in Spear's arms again. So I set to doing something really silly, planning Spear and Mine's wedding. Sure it was a little early in our relationship, if that's what you could call it, but it seemed like we were so much more than just boyfriend and girlfriend.

The Wedding of Spear Mahalla and Pierce Mactal

Colors: Turquoise and Ivory

Flowers: Sunflowers (My faves)—remember to ask Spear his fave, in casual convo.

Dress: Ivory with an empire waist and pearl beading

At St. Ann's in Forks.

Lola will give me away.

Ceremony: Traditional Mass in English, Tagalog, and Quileute.

Reception: Somewhere in La Push?

Cake: Hmm…La Push boys eat a lot…5 tiers, white with raspberry filling

Food: Tons…

Honeymoon: Anywhere as long as it's just Spear and me and a big, white, fluffy bed with lots of pillows.

I could feel myself blushing, thinking of making love to Spear, how different it would be than with Dumb-Dumb (who I technically only ever had sex with, since there was little to no love involved). Apparently, at some point during my planning, which I signed with the name, Mrs. Pierce Mahalla, class ended and I was completely unaware until Spear cleared his throat.

"Don't do that!" I tried to be seriously, closing my notebook quickly and grabbing a hold of his hand.

"What were you writing about?" Spear asked, as he pulled me closer and I felt myself blush again, thinking about how foolish I was to already be planning a wedding to a guy that I'd only known for such a short amount of time.

"Uh, n-nothing," I stuttered. Nice save, Pierce, I thought to myself.

He walked me to my next class, kissing me on the cheek before heading to his next class. Almost the moment he moved away from me, I felt a hole inside of me. It was amazing, so strange, and like nothing I'd ever felt with anyone else.

Classes were slow, too slow. Addie, the only friend I had besides my family and Spear, had begun "dating" our history professor, not really having much time for me anymore. My mind wandered and, as the professor dismissed us from my last class of the day, I packed my stuff while the other students in the class rushed for the door. I didn't see him when I first walked out but I soon felt his arms wrap around me, I knew it was going to be a great afternoon.

He kept his arms around me as we walked to the car. "So, we're going to see Yaya and Kai today, right?" I asked. He responded with a nod that was so cute I couldn't help but laugh.

We got in the car and he started it, heading in the direction of La Push. "I'm gonna drop you off at Emily's. Kai and Yaya are waiting there to see you," he stammered out, speeding.

He was leaving me alone, and as much as I liked Yaya and Kai, I never felt complete unless Spear was there. My mouth immediately formed a frown as I tried to turn my head so he couldn't see.

"You're gonna leave?" I couldn't help but ask, not taking my eyes from the forest, already feeling slightly abandoned. It was a bit scary the control he had over me.

"I'll be back in an hour tops, I promise. Gonna miss me?" he laughed, not being able to help myself and grinning.

And before I knew what I was doing, I murmured. "I just don't like it when we're apart." It was a factual statement, no matter that I had no intention of him hearing me. But he reached over the consul and held my hand.

"I'll be back. It won't even be that long. I promise. I bet you won't even notice that I'm gone. Yaya and Kai are gonna keep you way occupied," he said, rubbing circles on the back of my hand. And though my tensions were eased for the moment, I couldn't help but have my doubts.

"Just an hour?" I asked, already feeling the separation.

"Just an hour," he said. I squeezed his hand, holding it until we pulled into a driveway.

The house was perfect and Yaya and Kai sat on the swing on the porch. Yaya looked like she was about to pop, all wrapped in a blanket. Since I'd met Yaya, my mind had wondered to the fact she was so young and having a baby. She caressed her stomach lovingly, as Kai sat next to her. I wondered what it would be like to be pregnant. Yaya's body was so tiny I wondered how it was possible for her not to fall over with her huge baby belly in front of her.

I slid my way out of the car, Yaya yelling from the porch as we got walked up the porch. "It's about time you got her here! I've been freezing my ass off and I'm nearly eight months knocked up." She put her hand out and I took it. She yanked me into a hug, her belly keeping me from getting too close. She was genuinely happy to see me and I laughed.

"Well, I'm gonna go and see Jake at the shop," Spear said as Yaya pulled me to sit on the swing. He leaned down and kissed my cheek, walking off. A kiss on the cheek? That was all I was going to have to hold onto for the next hour?

"Spear…"I sighed, as I jumped off the swing, Spear turning around, as I jumped into his arms, crashing my lips against his and throwing every bit of my love in that one kiss, pushing hard until I felt our bodies were as close as they could get, as he reacted slowly, kissing me back. I pulled away and kissed his nose. "Please don't be too long," I muttered, making my way out of his arms and then sauntering back up the porch.

"Well, hot damn!" Yaya giggled and Kai whistled, I immediately blushed. Before I knew it, he was gone. "Now that he's outta the way, it's time for a little girl time."

"Okay," I chuckled, Kai picked up my wrist and looked at my bracelet. A sterling silver bracelet with charms of the letters A, P, and I dangling from it.

"This is beautiful," she said, running her fingers over it. "What do the letters stand for?"

I looked at the bracelet picking up the P, "This is for Pierce." I picked up the A, "This is for Amelia, my Mom's name." Then I picked up the I. "This is for Imee, my Lola."

"Lola?" Yaya asked.

"Oh, yeah, sorry. My grandmother," I looked at Kai, who was staring intently at me. "My Mom bought it for me…just before the accident."

Kai's brow furrowed. "Accident?"

"Um, yeah, right before my Mom passed away…it's supposed to remind me of the strong, resilient women I come from," I looked down.

It was quiet for awhile, Yaya rubbing her hand on her belly. "Wanna feel something really kick ass?" she asked me, grabbing my hand and putting it on the side of her baby-filled stomach before resting it and pressing slightly. I didn't feel anything for a minute until something pushed against my hand.

"What the…" I sighed.

"She's kicking up a storm today. I think she likes the rain. And she likes being at Em's and listening to Caden coo inside," Yaya chuckled. I didn't want to pull my hand away, wondering if the baby would kick again and wanting to feel it.

"About your bracelet, though, Yaya, you should get one of those for your little one," Kai looked around me and nodded. "I'd even let you put a K on it for 'Auntie Kai.'" She chuckled.

"Aww…how sweet of you," Yaya said with sarcasm in her voice.

It was quiet again, and my hand was still on Yaya's belly. She didn't take it off and I wanted desperately to feel the movement again.

Kai cleared her throat and spoke up. "It'll get easier, you know? As time goes by. The hurt will never completely go away but you'll learn to lean on others."

I looked at her with questioning eyes. "What?"

"My parents died when I was a your age. You were 16, right?" she asked and I nodded. "After the accident, I was brought here to La Push to live with Jake and Nessie." I couldn't remember who they were and my face must've shown it. "My husband Ayden's parents. My Dad and Ayden's dad were best friends. If I hadn't had Ayden, I wouldn't have made it." She twisted her wedding ring, almost like she was remembering something. "You've had a lot more to deal with since then, too, with that dumb ass, lowlife ex-boyfriend of yours," she covered her mouth a little, like she'd let that slip.

She knew? How did she know? "I…" I didn't even know what to say to that, so I didn't say anything.

The front screen door opened. "Hey girls, do you mind doing me a favor?" Emily said, holding a baby in her arms. "There's some green beans I need snapped. It's like ten pounds and I would love if you ladies could help me."

"Sure," Yaya said, leaning forward. "Kai will follow you in to get them."

"Ha!" Kai said, before following Emily in and coming back with three bowls, two empty and one overflowing with fresh, raw green beans. Emily came back out, sitting in a comfy lawn chair next to the swing. We set to snapping, throwing the ends in one of the empty bowls and the other pieces in the other empty bowl. Kai cleared her throat again. "Do you mind if I ask more about your family? You said you speak Tagalog, correct?"

"Yeah. My Mom's family is from the Philippines," I kept snapping.

"Was she born there?" Yaya asked, also snapping the green beans.

"Yep, in Manila. She and my grandparents, Lolo and Lola, moved here in the 70s."

"And she grew up in Forks?" Emily asked.

"For the most part. They moved came to the US when she was a teenager. She went to high school there but moved to Seattle after she graduated," I watched as Yaya quit snapping holding onto her stomach. "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "Yeah, she just likes to stretch every now and then."

"Your Mom, were you two pretty close?" Emily asked.

"Yeah. My Mom was amazing. She raised me by her self for most of my life and worked and went to school. She was my hero…" I felt like maybe I shouldn't share the next part but I did. As much as it hurt, it was part of me, part of why I was the way I was. Besides, I knew, like everyone else, it was something they wanted to know but were too afraid to ask. "She was changing a flat tire and this girl, not much older than me, was driving down the highway, texting on her phone and not paying attention. She swerved and didn't see Mom." I felt my bottom lip start to quiver a little. "I waited after school for like three hours, trying to figure out why she wasn't home yet. And then the Highway Patrolman showed up and called Lola. I've been here ever since."

"What about your Dad, if you don't mind me asking?" Emily semi-looked up at me, analyzing it to make sure she hadn't crossed a line. She hadn't.

"He's in the Navy. Out to see for six months of the year and then has a family in Maryland, I think. He's African-American," I looked down again, feeling myself shrink. "He has like three other kids, but I've never seen them. I haven't seen him since I was about two. I get cards and letters, that kind of thing."

It was quiet again. I hated the silence, it left time for them to decide I was a freak and that I didn't deserve to be with them. So I spoke up.

"But I have my Lola. She has family still in the Philippines. She's really all I have left, and she's sick, so I don't know how long she'll be around and then I won't have anyone," I finally felt the tears, thinking about spending the rest of my existence without a family.

"That's not true," Kai said, putting down her pile of green beans and holding my hand. "You have us, Pierce, and no matter how dysfunctional we may be at times, we don't let the people we love go easily."

"And you have that lug of a boyfriend," Yaya said. Was Spear my boyfriend? I mean, I guess he was, but boyfriend seemed so trivial. "I know he feels more for you than you could ever believe or probably want for that matter. But I guess that's what happens when those damn wolves imprint. My mom, me, Kai, Emily, Kim, you…all of us imprints."

I looked at her confused. "Imprint?"

Her eyes got wide as Kai and Emily started to pick up the green beans and Yaya looked down.

"What's an imprint?" I started to panic. The other ladies didn't look at me, continuing to pick up pieces of vegetable. "Tell me."

Kai finally stopped and looked up at me. "We can't. Spear has to be the one to tell you."

"Why?!" I looked at my watch. Spear should've been here hours ago.

"It's just the way it works," Kai said as I started to bounce my leg. She looked at Yaya. "Way to go, Big Mouth."

"I don't understand," I shook my head, standing up and beginning to pace. "Why can't you just tell me?" I knew this had to be something big, so I started thinking of the possibilities. Imprintimprint…imprint. "Just tell me this. Is it something really horribly bad?" I asked.

Wait…did she say wolves? What the fuck is going on here? Yaya and Kai kept looking at each other.

"Spear's gonna kill you," Kai said to Yaya.

"It was an accident! I cannot be held responsible for my actions! Hello! Baby inside of me, fucking with my emotions like Jasper Hale Cullen!" Yaya screamed.

Emily got up as the front door opened and Spear appeared. They exchanged a few words while I looked at him. I knew this was too good to be true…I couldn't actually have found someone that loved me, really me, without there being some tragic secret.

Spear mouthed something to Yaya as I grabbed his hand and walked into the front room.

"Sorry! It slipped!" Yaya yelled after us. I immediately felt Spear tense and it confirmed my fears. This was bad, very bad.

He smiled down at me as I stopped. I looked at him, my emotions not changing. "Explain yourself!"

His attempts at innocence were pissing me off. "Explain what?" he asked.

"Imprint?" I asked forcefully.

I could see the wheels turning as Spear continued to look at me. "Imprint? What's this you speak of?"

OH HELL NO! You don't get to play that, Spear Mahalla! "Cut the crap. Either you tell me or I'm out of here. Is this some kind of sick joke that the Natives play on all the non-Natives?"

"No, no," he stopped for a second. "Okay, you know how every culture has its legends. I'm sure you've heard some Filipino legends, right?"

What the hell did that have to do with anything? I wracked my brain for legends I'd been told over the years. "Yeah. After my mom died, Lola used to tell me one about a girl that fell in love with a ghost and then—wait! What the hell does that have to do with what you're trying to explain to me?" Legends? We were potentially having the most epic moment of our relationship and he wants to share legends?

"Okay, the Quileute's have this legend…" he went on to tell me about a man named Taha Aki and his place as the "great protector" to the Quileutes and that he and his family and friends carried on that tradition. He failed to mention something.

"Protectors from what exactly? I asked, watching him tense more. He mumbled something too low for me to hear. "I didn't catch that, come again."

"Vampires," he repeated. Very funny! Vampires! But his face was so serious, there was almost no changed.

"Are you kidding me!?" " I responded.

"We're a pack. We protect the people from the bloodsuckers. It's what we're made for," he explained, as I felt my head begin to spin and I fell on the couch. All the pieces finally fit together. Wolves…a pack…

"A pack of wolves?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said sitting with me. This was big. I tried to catch my breath as I ran my hands trhough my hair. This was just fabulous…NOT!

"Okay, so you're a mystical werewolf. You're a fucking werewolf," I couldn't help but feel angry. "Okay, okay, okay, okay…Okay, I can deal with that. But what does that have to do with imprinting?" I asked bringing us back full circle to the reason we were having this conversation to begin with. What if this was more than I could handle, did I really want to know? I knew I wanted and needed Spear but I needed to know what the hell was going on too.

"Imprinting is something we do," he put his arm around me and I felt the familiar feeling of home. "We imprint to create stronger wolves." I moved away from him.

Stronger wolves? What the fuck did that mean? "I'm not getting this." And then it hit me. "So you're saying that you only like me because I have the possibility to get pregnant and create stronger wolf spawn?" There went my happily ever after. "This is just great! Here I am thinking I finally found a good guy and it's not like that at all. It's only because I can produce wolf cubs!" I screamed, trying so hard not to cry as I watched everything I had hoped for fall away. "You're forced to be with me," I whispered. It had all been a lie.

"No! no, it's like - fate. When a wolf finds their imprint it's like they find their soul mate! I live for you and through you. If you're hurt then I'm hurt. I don't just imprint and automatically love you because fate says so. Love grows." he explained. I was his soulmate. I was his soulmate. Let myself fall back into his arms, no longer hiding the tears.

"So I'm your soul mate?" I whispered, as Spear ran his thumb over the falling tears.

"You have no idea how much I care about you. You're more than my imprint and I think even if I wasn't a wolf, I would have still been crazy about you from day one." He said, causing me to laugh and then leaning forward to kiss me softly. The reality of the situation hit me as I sighed. But it didn't actually completely have me convinced until he said what he said next. "I'm yours and only yours."

That I could definitely live with. "Good. So, can I kill you with a silver bullet?" I asked as rolled his eyes at me.

"Not exactly, the Hollywood version of things is a bit watered down and over imaginative." He said and I wanted to laugh at his annoyance with such a question.

"So I guess that means you don't turn into a hairy beast when there's a full moon." I giggled and he kissed my cheek. I wanted to turn in his arms and make out on Emily's couch, but that probably wasn't proper protocol for what had just transpired.

Yaya had interrupted us. "So I guess that means you're an official part of the imprint club! You get a patch and everything!" she squealed sarcastically and I couldn't help but laugh.

"I could kill you and you're big mouth!" Spear said forcefully pointing his finger at her as she rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm pregnant and hormonal, I don't have a grip on my mind and it just got away from me. And I do not have a big mouth." she glared.

"You have a gigantic mouth!" Spear rebutted. Yaya flipped him off before waddling away and leaving it just Spear and I. I cuddled into him.

"So when were you planning on telling me?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Maybe when we're married, or never." He said as I smacked his stomach. "I'm glad you're in on the secret though."

So many things started to make sense now, as the pieces fell into place. "So does this explain why you were shirtless when you came and got me that night?" I asked.

"You're a smart one." he chuckled. "Yeah, it explains why I didn't have a shirt. My body temperature is really high and wearing clothes sucks. And when I phase, I can't wear any clothes, they'll be destroyed."

I cuddle closer, never wanting to let go of that warmth. "I love your warmth," I sighed, knowing that I was going to get to feel it every single day for the rest of my life and wanting nothing more. This was quiet possibly the best place I could ever be, in Spear's arms. If only this peace could've lasted.

AN: So that was a big bitch of a chapter, eh?! Haha! Next chapter, things are gonna get interesting! Bwahahahahahah!